TOP STORIES

Chamber wants to hop on Amtrak effort

By ROSIE FLORES

Staff Writer

PECOS, TX, Aug. 1, 1996 - The Mexican American Network of Odessa is seeking support from surrounding communities in an effort to bring passenger rail service back to the Interstate 20 corridor from Fort Worth to El Paso.

"We need everyone's cooperation in this effort," said MANO executive director Iris Correa. "We're in the process of forming a coalition to promote this project."

Amtrak recently awakened the interest of officials along the Interstate 20 corridor with its tentative proposal, called the "Sunshine Special."

This rail service would run along I-20 and I-10 through West Texas from Fort Worth to Sierra Blanca, where it would meet up with Amtrak's existing San Antonio to El Paso line.

MANO first brought up the issue three months ago, and Correa said cities along the I-20 corridor, including Odessa, Midland, Big Spring and Abilene, have not had passenger train service for nearly 40 years.

It was unknown if other cities along I-20, such as Pecos, Monahans and Sweetwater, would also be includes as stops if service was resumed, and Amtrak officials said a final decision on adding the line could be several years away.

"I've been trying to get ahold of somebody in MANO," said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tom Rivera. "I think we need to do something to get on this band wagon."

Rivera said that this would be a great opportunity for Pecos, especially if they made it one of their stops.

"Maybe they can do something with the old depot, since we haven't been able to get anywhere with it," said Rivera.

"But I think this is a great opportunity for us and we definitely need to join in this effort," he said.

The rail service will run through many different smaller towns with Odessa being the hub of it all, according to Correa.

"This will also be a great opportunity for starter businesses," said Correa.

Cooperation has to come from the whole region, according to Correa.

"Abilene and Big Spring have come on board with us to promote this endeavor," said Correa.

"The mayor from Big Spring, Tim Blackshear, has been a big supporter," said Correa. "We need more people like him to join us," she said.

"The only other route currently serving West Texas runs along I-10 connecting El Paso, San Antonio and Houston, this I-20 route would hook up both sides," said Correa.

Amtrak's "Sunset Limited" follows Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 from El Paso to Houston, and includes West Texas stops in Alpine and Del Rio.

Under MANO's plan individuals will be able to board rail service on the east coast and come through from Chicago to Fort Worth and from there on to El Paso and west to Arizona and California, according to Correa.

MANO has been discussing possible rail service with the national corporation since May.

MANO became involved in the process after counterparts in El Paso first approached Amtrak officials in 1993.

"Everything right now is very preliminary," said Correa. "We had a meeting with Amtrak officials to propose our route and show them a presentation, but everything is still very new," she said.

"This meeting was also held for officials from the different cities to come and give their input, because we need everyone's cooperation," said Correa.

If the project is accepted, service wouldn't start for a minimum of four years, according to Amtrak officials. Improvements would also be needed on Union Pacific's track between Fort Worth and Sierra Blanca to handle the 70-mile-per-hour passenger trains.

One of the main things the Hispanic Chamber is stressing is that the service would help local industries.

"They buy from local merchants on their stops," said Correa. "We should make this a part of our proposal," she said.

Correa cited for example the frozen food plant located here in Pecos, Anchor Foods and the local cantaloupe industry.

"They buy all these products which are served on their train," said Correa. "This certainly would help the local economy," she said.

However, Correa states that "a lot of this has to come from the community, we can't do it by ourselves."

"It will make the Permian Basin accessible to all transportation," said Correa. "This will add train ridership to our other services."

Cable company begins

changing local channels

By MARI MALDONADO

Staff Writer

PECOS, TX, Aug. 1, 1996 - Local television viewers will notice a change in their cable service today, including the loss of both rock music channels and the addition of the Disney Channel to the basic cable package.

Jennifer Tremblay, marketing manager for Classic Cable Co., said this morning that all changes should be in place by today or within the next few days.

Tremblay said Classic Cable representatives call the channel deletions and additions, "a value enhancement," program. It will also include the elimination of the Playboy Channel (Channel 22) from the premium service options and the Faith and Values Channel (Ch. 30) from the basic cable package.

Other additions include The History Channel (Ch. 41), replacing MTV and TV Land (Ch. 40), in place of VH-1. Tremblay said that although these are not probably not popular deletions, "we feel that there were other programs that customers prefer."

She said Classic Cable currently does not have a contract to carry these services, although the same company, Viacom, supplies Classic with four other channels on the Pecos cable system, including the newly-added TV Land. Tremblay said VH-1 may be included back in the basic cable package in the future.

Faith and Values is being replaced by Fox Sports Southwest, one of the eight regional sports cable channels currently operating under the Prime Sports name.

Live Saturday football games will be featured on this channel, said Tremblay, under Fox Sports' contract with the Big 12. The channel also broadcasts Houston Astros baseball games, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs basketball games and Dallas Stars hockey games.

The Playboy Channel will be replaced by Showtime, which currently is located on Ch. 1. Tremblay also said the local access channel, Ch. 6, will now feature Pay Per View options for boxing enthusiasts and other special events viewers. Programs there will be purchased individually, as opposed to on a monthly basis.

Rest room burning victim

flown to Lubbock hospital

By ROSIE FLORES

Staff Writer

PECOS, TX. Aug. 1, 1996 - A Pecos man was listed in stable condition today after being burned in an accident Wednesday evening.

Ismal Bustamante was transported first to Reeves County Hospital by the Pecos Ambulance Service and was later flown to the University Medical Center in Lubbock for treatment of his injuries. A spokesman for that facility said Bustamante is in a private room at this time.

According to reports, the Pecos Fire Department was dispatched to 1304 E. Third St. about 7:48 p.m. in reference to smoke coming from the rest room.

"Upon arrival I noticed a male subject standing outside the rest room at Varela's Service Station," said Fire Marshal Jack Brookshire. "I noticed the subject was wearing boxer shorts and the subjects pants were on the floor of the rest room on fire."

Brookshire said he noticed that Bustamante had severe burns on his lower right leg.

"I spoke to Albert Varela while I was at the station and he advised me that he had seen Mr. Bustamante enter the rest room about ten minutes before he noticed smoke coming from there," said Brookshire.

"Varela said that when he went to the rest room to see what was going on, Bustamante would not open the door, and that's when he called the police," said Brookshire.

Brookshire later went to the hospital to visit with Bustamante and he appeared to be very intoxicated.

"I asked him if he could tell me what had happened and he said that he was not sure, that he was using the bathroom, drinking beer and smoking a cigarette and his pants caught on fire," said Brookshire.

Apparently he dropped a cigarette or a match on his pants setting them on fire, the fire marshal said.

Brookshire said that he also spoke to Dr. Eusebio Barrientos and that he said that Bustamante had first, second and third degree burns on his right leg, with most of the burns being between the right knee and the right foot.

The cause of the fire was ruled accidental with the main factors being alcohol and smoking cigarettes, Brookshire said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, or other agencies; and from interviews with officers of those agencies.

Police Report

Return to MenuOn July 3, Joe Garcia reported to county deputies that sometime between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., July 2, an unknown party had broke out the back windshield of his 1993 Chevrolet pickup with a BB gun. Damage was estimated at $600. The location of the crime was not indicated.

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James Garcia, 20, of Balmorhea, and Adolfo Mendoza, 18, 220 W. 13th, were arrested for disorderly conduct by deputies in the Reeves County Civic Center parking lot July 3, just before midnight.

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Gabrela Montez of Saragosa reported to sheriffs deputies that some between 10 p.m., July 6 and 1:15 a.m., July 7, someone broke out her kitchen window. Damage was estimated at $50.

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Irma Salazar Jimenez was taken into custody by police at the Pecos Municipal Court after being served with two warrants for outstandig fines on July 10. Jimenez's age and address were not indicated.

During the afternoon of July 10, police arrested Maria Dolores Martinez in the 400 block of South Mulberry for possession of drug paraphenalia. Martinez's age and address were not available.

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During the late night hours of July 10, police arrested Ramon Munoz for DWI in the corner of Plum and Walthall Streets. Munoz's age and address were not given.

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Raul Garcia, 23, 812 S. Cypress, was arrested by police for outstanding DPS warrant on July 11, about 12:45 a.m.

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Police arrested John Natividad, 18, 904 E. Eighth, for abuse of aerosol paint in the 1100 block of Orange, about 11:30 p.m., July 11. Natividad's age and address were not given.

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Francisco Orona Medrano, 32, 318 E. Eighth, was arrested by police July 11 for public intoxication in the 1100 block of S. Orange.

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On July 11, Jon Igo reported a stolen Panasonic portable stereo from the Carver Center, located in the corner of Locust and 12th Streets.

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On the night of July 12, police arrested Francisco Castro for public intoxication at 2011 Wyoming. Castro's age and address were not indicated.

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Police arrested Jesus Martinez, 18, 915 S. Cherry, in the 800 block of Cedar for public intoxication on July 12.

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A gas drive off was reported by the clerk on duty at the Town and Country convenient store in the 1200 block of South Cedar Street. The suspect drove with $16.66 worth of gas, police were told, about 12:15 a.m. July 13.

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Frankie Menchaca was arrested by police in the Reeves County Civic Center parking lot on the evening of July 13 and served with a sheriffs department warrant on July 13. The police blotter did not indicate the charge on the warrant, nor Menchaca's age or address.

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Leticia R. Rodriguez, 23, 905 E. 11th, was arrested for public intoxication during the early morning hours of July 14 in the 900 block of S. Cherry.

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Elia Lujan reported a stolen bicycle from her residence at 1319 S. Elm Street. Police took the report on the morning of July 15. Lujan said the crime occurred sometime between 11 p.m., July 14 and the time of the report.

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Terry Louis Burkholder, 51, was cited for unsafe backing on July 15, just before the lunch hour, when he backed up from the parking area in the 100 block of West Fourth Street in a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban into a 1994 Pontiac Sunbird, driven by 37-year-old Irma Martinez Leon.

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Tomas Carmona, 46, 915 S. Cherry, for assault under the Family Violence Act July 15 at his residence. Police were called to the scene about 10:25 p.m.He was arrested again on the same charges at his residence July 22.

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Joe Coody, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Maintenance Director, reported an act of criminal mischief in the Pecos High School football field to police on the morning of July 18. The crime was committed sometime between July 17 and the time of the report. The nature of the incident was not indicated. HHHHHHHH

Cruz Jimenez, 22, 1014 E. Eighth, and John Natividad, 18, 904 E. Eighth, were arrested by police and charged with abusing aerosol paint in the 800 block of S. Mesquite Street, July 18.

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Gernomino Hignojos was arrested on two warrants for outstanding fines on July 16. Place of arrest, and Hignojos' age and address were not given.

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On July 16, Jamin Weidner was arrested by police for assault by threat under the Family Violence Act in the 2200 block of Eddy Street. Address and birthdate for Weidner were not given.

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Police arrested Rudy Mora Minjarez for theft over $50 at the Town and Country convenient store at 915 W. Third Street July 17.

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Ismael Salcido Menchaca, 20, 2201 Veterans, was arrested at the corner of Third and Willow Streets on a warrant for outstanding municipal fines on July 18.

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After investigating a two car accident at the corner of Elm and Third Streets, police cited Olga Juarez Garcia, 39, who was driving a 1990 Chevrolet pickup for failing to yield right of way at a stop intersection and Monica Jo Bustamante, 16, for driving without a driver's license, on July 19.

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Donacio Torres, 56, 527 Martinez, was arrested for public intoxication at the Illusion bar on July 20, about 12:30 a.m.

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Police arrested Gilbert Juarez in the 1400 block of 13th Street July 20, just after noon, for outstanding DPS warrants. Age and address for Juarez were not available.

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On July 21, about 1:30 a.m., police arrested Ricardo Rocha for public intoxication in the 500 block of East 12th Street. Rocha's address and age were not available.

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Police arrested Eric Garcia for criminal trespass in the 2400 block of Sage Street July 22. Garcia's age and address were not indicated.

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Felix J. Madrid, 21, 1938 Scott, was arrested by police during a warrant service July 22, He was charged probation revocation on an original charge of hindering apprehension.

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On July 23, about 6:30 p.m., police cited Guadalupe Herrera, 22, for no driver's license, no insurance, and failing to stop at a designated stopping point, after investigating an accident in the corner of Bois D'Arc and Fifth Streets. He was driving a 1978 Buick Regal when he struck a 1995 Pontiac Sunfire, driven by Hilda M. Rodriguez, 31. Rodriguez received no citations.

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Police arrested Ysa Munoz for criminal trespass and outstanding fine warrants in the 700 block of Meadowbrook, Pecos Housing Authroity projects, the evening of July 23. Munoz's age and address were not indicated.

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On July 25, Diego Arriaga, was arrested by police for no driver's license and no insurance during a traffic stop in the corner of Jefferson and Eddy Streets. Arriaga's age and address were not avaiable.

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Nicomedes Florez reported to police on July 26 that sometime between July 23, midnight, and 9 a.m. that day, someone had scratched his vehile while parked at his residence at 2129 Hackberry.]HHHHHHHH

Augustin Valdez Muro, 38, 1901 Scott, was arrested by police in the corner of Texas Highway 17 and Business I-20 during the early morning hours of July 28.

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Police arrested Rodolfo Carrasco Renteria, 25, 203 S. Walnut, at the Illusion bar on July 28 for revoking his probation on an original charge of Felony DWI and escaping and resisting arrest.

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Catarina Ornelas, 38, 913 E. Ninth, was arrested by police for public intoxication in the 500 block of South Oak Street on July 28.

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A male juvenile was taken into custody by police at the Saragosa Hall on July 28, just before 1 a.m., for fleeing the scene of an accident.

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Police arrested Javier N. Ramirez at the Illusion bar on July 28, about 12:20 a.m., for public intoxication.

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Omar Medina was arrested for outstanding fine warrants in the 700 block of Cherry Street July 28, during the late night hours. Medina's age and address were not indicated.

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On July 28, just before 11 p.m, police arrested Vickie Renteria for outstanding fine warrants in the 100 block of Almond Street. Renteria's age and address were not available.

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